Moms, take note of these foods that actually do a number on your kid’s brain. Check out this list of the worst food for your kid’s brain.
What can you read in this article?
- Worst food for the brain
- Food that can make your child smarter
You are what you eat– this statement holds true for everyone including our kids. When it comes to providing our kids with the nutrients that they need, we try our best to check what they eat to make sure that there are no ingredients that can harm our children.
Also, when we think about nutrition, we always think about food that can help in our child’s muscle development. Food that can make their bodies strong and free from diseases. But one thing we might have missed is how these foods affect our child’s brain.
There are some food items that may be okay for our children’s bodies when consumed occasionally but are actually the worst food for the brain and make them slow learners.
So if you want your child to reach his optimum potential when it comes to his brain development, steer clear of these foods on our list.
The worst food for your child’s brain
1. Packaged or processed foods
Image from Freepik
Our kids love it, we love it too because it’s fast, easy and tasty. But highly processed foods that are high in sugar, fat, and salt are actually the worst kind of food for your brain. They’re high in calories and low in nutrients, exactly the kinds of foods that cause weight gain, which can have a negative effect on your brain health.
Different studies show that eating these kinds of food can damage our brain tissue, which can lead to poor memory and impaired learning.
Avoid packed & processed foods such as packed chips and other munchies, burger & pizza, noodles (cup noodles, and instant noodles) that has Monosodium glutamate (MSG) in the ingredients.
MSG is used as a flavor enhancer that also causes mood and behavior changes, including headaches and hyperactivity. Fast food also falls in this category.
2. Food with artificial coloring in them
They say you should add color to your kids’ diet to keep them healthy, right? Well, these artificial colors certainly won’t do the trick!
Many countries have banned artificial coloring due to the detrimental effects these chemicals have on children. Linked to ADHD, anxiety, hyperactivity, and headaches in children, artificial coloring can also cause significant behavioral changes.
Because artificial coloring is found in many sugary foods, parents often blame behavioral changes on sugar. Artificial coloring is also often hidden in unexpected foods such as bread and yogurt.
If you really want to inject some color into your child’s diet, go for foods that have natural sugar in them – fruits.
3. Soda /caffeinated drinks
One of the major components of these drinks is caffeine. For example, a typical can of cola may contain between 36 and 46 milligrams of caffeine, according to the article”Nutrition Matters” from Toronto’s Public Health organization.
Kids’ smaller bodies are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine, which can cause jumpiness, nervousness, sleep loss, hyperactivity, headache or stomachache.
Another primary ingredient of many sugary drinks is high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which consists of 55% fructose and 45% glucose.
According to Healthline, animal studies have shown that a high fructose intake can lead to insulin resistance in the brain, which leads to a reduction in brain function, memory, learning and the formation of brain neurons.
4. Foods with high amounts of sugar
Sugar can cause a child to be hyperactive, which not only impacts a student’s grade and performance but also influences their behavior and mood. For this reason, foods with high amounts of sugar are definitely included in the list of worst food for the brain. Some examples of these foods are candies, chocolate, cakes, fruit juices and snacks.
Just like sugary drinks, these sugary foods and snacks contain high amounts of glucose and fructose that may affect the secretion of insulin. This will cause the brain to malfunction, work down and negatively affect the mood of the child and his brain.
Another animal study has found that a diet that’s high in sugar increased brain inflammation and impaired memory.
5. Foods high in trans fat
Trans fat is the worst kind of fat not only for your child’s body but for his brain too. According to Healthline, trans fat is a type of unsaturated fat that can have a detrimental effect on brain health.
Trans fats are naturally found in animal products like meat and dairy, but these are not a major concern. The problem are industrially produced trans fats, also known as hydrogenated vegetable oils. These can be found in shortening, margarine, frosting, snack foods, ready-made cakes, and prepackaged cookies.
Studies show that high consumption of these kinds of fat can lead to increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, poorer memory, lower brain volume and cognitive decline.
READ MORE:
Is your baby eating these? 12 best foods your 1-year-old should be eating
How your Child’s brain develops from birth till the age of 6
If you can’t avoid these foods altogether, it’s best to limit them in your child’s diet as much as you can. And to reverse the harmful effects of these foods on your brain, replace them with food that can actually make you and your child smarter.
Brain food you should include in your child’s diet
Here are some foods that are fuel for the brain and can help make you smarter.
- Broccoli and other leafy greens contain choline, which helps combat memory loss. They are also rich in iron, a mineral that helps transport oxygen throughout the body.
- Salmon and other fish are packed with Omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for brain performance.
- Avocados have high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids that help keep nerve cells in the brain healthy.
- Nuts are bursting with vitamin E, which counters cognitive decline. They also have Omega-3 fatty acids too.
- Berries are rich in flavonoids, an antioxidant that may have memory and mood-enhancing properties.
- Beans help counter the negative effect of glucose in your body and help curb fatigue.
- Need some brain fuel? Studies show that cocoa (found in dark chocolate and hot chocolate) appeared to boost the brain’s blood supply.
Republished with permission from The Indus Parent
Additional information by Camille Eusebio